Histological Analysis of Small Intestine and Colon

For histological analysis, cross sectional images of the proximal, mid, and distal small intestine and colon were captured by an EVOS^TM 7000 Imaging System at a 10× magnification. Invitrogen Celleste Image Analysis Software (SKU# AMEP4816) was then used for villi and crypt morphometric evaluation. The lines feature was used to measure villi height from the top of villus to the top border of muscularis mucosae, while the crypt depth was measured form the top to the base of the crypt. Eleven to eighteen measurements were taken per mouse. An average for each mouse was then determined. The number of goblet cells was counted in both villi and crypt of distal small intestine and crypt of colon. The stained goblet cells were counted from three individual regions for each mouse and the average cell number per villi or crypt was then calculated.